Psalms 35:9 — Word Study
WLCוְ֭נַפְשִׁי תָּגִ֣יל בַּיהוָ֑ה תָּ֝שִׂישׂ בִּישׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃
BSAThen my soulnephesh [living being, essence] will rejoicegîyl▸ [be joyful, glad] in the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, Lord God] and exultsûws▸ [feel joyful, cheerful] in His salvationyᵉshûwʻâh [victory, deliverance]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְ֭נַפְשִׁי | and self my | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| תָּגִ֣יל | it will rejoice | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine singular |
| בַּיהוָ֑ה | in Yahweh | Preposition, noun proper |
| תָּ֝שִׂישׂ | it will exult | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person feminine singular |
| בִּישׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃ | in salvation his | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult in His salvation. |
| KJV | And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. |
| ASV | And my soul shall be joyful in Jehovah: It shall rejoice in his salvation. |
| YLT | And my soul is joyful in Jehovah, It rejoiceth in His salvation. |
| WEB | My soul shall be joyful in Yahweh. It shall rejoice in his salvation. |
| BBE | And my soul will have joy in the Lord; it will be glad in his salvation. |
Where they part company is in the expression of joy — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause followed by a prepositional phrase and another main clause, emphasizing the psalmist's joy and exultation.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbגִּיל
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 35:9
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Declaration of Joy in Godgenerated
Psalms 35:9 is a declaration of joy and praise from the psalmist, who contrasts their own rejoicing in God with the fate of their enemies. The surrounding verses express a plea for divine justice against those who seek to harm the psalmist, highlighting the relationship between personal deliverance and communal justice.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 13:5 | But I have trusted in Your loving devotion; my heart will rejoice in Your salvation. |
| 2 | Psalm 21:1 | O LORD, the king rejoices in Your strength. How greatly he exults in Your salvation! |
| 3 | Psalm 33:21 | For our hearts rejoice in Him, since we trust in His holy name. |
| 4 | Psalm 48:11 | Mount Zion is glad, the daughters of Judah rejoice, on account of Your judgments. |
| 5 | Psalm 58:10–11 | The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נַפְשִׁי, naf'shigenerated
The word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) is a noun that refers to the soul or living being. It captures the essence of a person, encompassing life, breath, and vitality. The parsing indicates it is a feminine singular noun, showing that it represents the psalmist's very self.
This term is central to biblical anthropology, emphasizing the holistic nature of human existence. It is often used in contexts where the emotional and spiritual aspects of life are highlighted, as in this verse, where the psalmist's soul rejoices.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs תָּגִ֣יל and תָּ֝שִׂישׂ govern the main actions of the verse: the rejoicing and exulting. The structure emphasizes the psalmist's emotional response to God's salvation.
The subject is the psalmist's soul, with both verbs indicating a strong, joyful reaction to the divine deliverance.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates נַפְשִׁי as μου, meaning 'my.' This choice emphasizes the personal nature of the psalmist's experience of joy.
The Greek word ἀγαλλιάσεται for תָּגִ֣יל shows a strong sense of joy, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning but also suggesting a more exuberant form of rejoicing.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalms 35:9 expresses the psalmist's joy in the Lord and His salvation. The psalmist contrasts their own rejoicing with the fate of their enemies, affirming that their essence rejoices in God's deliverance.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Rejoicing in the Lord signifies a deep, personal joy derived from God's presence and His acts of salvation, reflecting a relationship of trust and gratitude.
This verse serves as a declaration of faith amidst a plea for justice, highlighting the psalmist's reliance on God for deliverance from adversaries.
The soul represents the psalmist's entire being, indicating that their joy is not merely emotional but a profound affirmation of life and faith in God.
Exulting in salvation emphasizes a celebratory response to God's deliverance, recognizing His power to save and restore.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced joy in my relationship with God?
- How can I express my gratitude for God's deliverance in my life?
- What does it mean for my soul to rejoice in the Lord?
- How can I encourage others to find joy in God's salvation?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Church Fathers, like Augustine, reference this verse to illustrate the joy found in the Lord amidst trials.
This then for the wicked that would hurt me: what for me? "But my soul shall rejoice in the Lord" [Psalms 35:9];Early Church Fathers on Psalms 35 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 35:9 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd my soul shall be joyful in the Lord,.... Not in the destruction of his enemies, but in the God of his salvation; the Targum is, "in the Word of the Lord"; the essential Word of God, the promised
Read John Gill on Psalms 35 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. My soul shall be joyful.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 35 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIn the Lord; in and for his glory and service, which shall be advanced by this means, and for his favour to me, otherwise I am far from rejoicing in their calamities.
Read Matthew Poole on Psalms 35 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.Ver. 9. And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord] This was what he aimed at in his foregoing imprecations, viz. the glory and praise of God, and not his own wreaking his spleen upon his enemies.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 35 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 9. My soul] My life, thus saved - Shall be joyful in the Lord] I am so circumstanced at present as to be in the utmost danger of being destroyed by my foes; if I escape, it must be by the strong arm of the Lord; and to him shall the glory be given.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 35 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleAnd my soul shall be joyful in the Lord - That is, I shall be joyful, or will rejoice. This is said in anticipation of the interposition of God in destroying his enemies, and in delivering him from danger.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 35 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible9, 10. These verses close the first strophe with promise of joy and praise at the deliverance asked and expected. All my bones—The solid framework of my body shall, with my soul, show forth thy praise.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Psalms 35 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult in His salvation.
My soul shall be joyful in Yahweh. It shall rejoice in his salvation.
Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult in His salvation.
Then I will rejoice in the Lord and be happy because of his deliverance.
Tyndale line
And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
And my soul shall be joyful in Jehovah: It shall rejoice in his salvation.
And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
Then my soule shalbe ioyfull in the Lord: it shall reioyce in his saluation.
Strictly literal
And my soul shall be joyful in Jehovah; it shall rejoice in his salvation.
And my soul is joyful in Jehovah, It rejoiceth in His salvation.
And my soul is joyful in YHWH, || It rejoices in His salvation.
But my soul shall exult in the Lord: she shall be glad through his salvation.
But I will be joyful in Yahweh and rejoice in his salvation.
From the Latin
They shall be inebriated with the plenty of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the torrent of thy pleasure.
Simplified
Then I will be glad in the Lord; I will be happy in his salvation.
And my soul will have joy in the Lord; it will be glad in his salvation.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint closely align in this verse, with the Septuagint providing a clear translation of the Hebrew terms. The Dead Sea Scrolls reflect the same content, though some words were supplied by an editor due to damage.
וְ֭נַפְשִׁי תָּגִ֣יל בַּיהוָ֑ה תָּ֝שִׂישׂ בִּישׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃
4 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[ונפש׳י] [תגיל] [ביהוה] [תשיש] [בישועת׳ו]
nothing on the leather here — 5 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 35:9
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.
נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
The נפשׁ becomes a living being
The נפשׁ is specif.
The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
נ׳ in D
base
H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
. The נפשׁ becomes a living being
. The נפשׁ is specif.
. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
. נ׳ in D
5315 nephesh neh'-fesh
from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of
(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,
accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,
appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,
X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),
(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,
mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,
thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,
thing, (X she) will, X would have it.
see HEBREW for 05314
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
1g1) uncertain
1h) activity of the will
1h1) uncertain
1i) activity of the character
1i1) uncertain
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
Conj | N-cs | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncfsc/Sp1bs
גִּיל (giyl) is a Hebrew verb meaning to rejoice or be glad, often associated with a sense of excitement or levity. It can also imply trembling, particularly from fear. The word is built from a root that conveys the idea of spinning around due to strong emotions, covering both joy and fear.
[גִּיל] vb. rejoice (go around or about, be excited to levity)
Qal
rejoice
tremble
base
H1523 גִּיל rejoice (go around or about, be excited to levity)
1523 giyl gheel
or (by permutation) guwl {gool}; a primitive root; properly,
to spin round (under the influence of any violent emotion),
i.e. usually rejoice, or (as cringing) fear:--be glad, joy,
be joyful, rejoice.
גִּיל (gil) — to rejoice.
1) to rejoice, exult, be glad
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to rejoice
1a2) to tremble (from fear)
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singularHVqi2ms
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun properHR/Npt
שׂוּשׂ (suws) is a Hebrew verb meaning to exult or rejoice. It conveys a sense of brightness and cheerfulness, often associated with displaying joy. The entries consistently emphasize its use in expressing joy and gladness.
שׂוּשׂ, שִׂישׂ vb. exult, rejoice
base
H7797 שׂוּשׂ, שִׂישׂ exult, rejoice
7797 suws soos
or siys {sece}; a primitive root; to be bright, i.e.
cheerful:--be glad, X greatly, joy, make mirth, rejoice.
שׂוּשׂ (su.s) — to rejoice.
1) to exult, rejoice
1a) (Qal) to exult, display joy
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person feminine singularHVqi3fs
יְשׁוּעָה (yeshu'ah) refers to concepts of salvation, deliverance, and welfare, often with a spiritual dimension. It is derived from a root meaning to save and encompasses ideas of victory and prosperity. The term is used in contexts related to divine aid and protection, emphasizing both physical and spiritual deliverance.
יְשׁוּעָה n.f. salvation
welfare, prosperity
deliverance
salvation by God, primarily from external evils, but often with added spiritual idea
victory
base
H3444 יְשׁוּעָה salvation . welfare, prosperity
. deliverance
. salvation by God, primarily from external evils, but often with added spiritual idea
. victory
3444 yshuw`ah yesh-oo'-aw
feminine passive participle of 3467; something saved, i.e.
(abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory,
prosperity:--deliverance, health, help(-ing), salvation, save,
saving (health), welfare.
see HEBREW for 03467
יְשׁוּעָה (ye.shu.ah) — salvation.
1) salvation, deliverance
1a) welfare, prosperity
1b) deliverance
1c) salvation (by God)
1d) victory
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms